A new heather has been cultivated in honour of pop star Madonna to thank her for helping put the Scottish Highlands on the tourism map.

It will be sent to the singer and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, to mark their second wedding anniversary.

The couple tied the knot in December 2000 at a celebrity-studded ceremony at Skibo Castle, near Dornoch.

The ceremonies attracted worldwide media interest and were estimated to have generated �2.5m for the Sutherland economy.

Madonna and Guy Ritchie with their son Rocco

Tourist body VisitScotland set up the Romantic Scotland campaign after the wedding to encourage more couples to marry north of the border.

"Scotland, and indeed the UK, has so much to thank Mr and Mrs Ritchie for," said Fiona Jack of the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board.

"By choosing Scotland as their place of marriage, they showcased Scotland's beauty and romance to the world and people from across the globe now make their vows here.

'Perfect gift'

"Since the campaign launch inquiries for weddings have certainly increased from across the globe.

"The 'Madonna effect' continues to grow, so heather seemed like the perfect gift."

Skibo Castle played host to celebrity guests

Last year, the couple were sent a tartan designed in their honour.

The new Madonna heather is expected to be purple.

It is being grown at The Speyside Heather Centre in Inverness-shire, and will soon be registered with the National Heather Society.

It will be called Romantic Scotland and should be available to the public next year.

The centre's Betty Lambie said: "Since heather is not seed-forming, it takes a wee while to fully develop a new one.

"We are confident that this heather will be a beauty and a fitting wedding anniversary gift for Madonna and Guy Ritchie."

She said heather has been looked upon as a lucky symbol in Scotland since the days when it was worn as part of a clan badge.